US6094182AExpiredUtility

Apparatus and method for providing images for viewing at various distances

75
Priority: Mar 3, 1993Filed: Jun 30, 1997Granted: Jul 25, 2000
Est. expiryMar 3, 2013(expired)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:Francis J. Maguire, Jr.
H04N 2013/0096G09G 3/003H04N 13/383H04N 2013/0081H04N 13/344H04N 13/305H04N 13/194H04N 13/189H04N 19/597H04N 13/296H04N 13/366H04N 5/7491H04N 13/167H04N 13/337H04N 13/161H04N 13/286H04N 13/341G02B 30/24H04N 13/322H04N 13/239H04N 13/117H04N 13/398
75
PatentIndex Score
37
Cited by
137
References
19
Claims

Abstract

A method and apparatus for providing, in response to successive image signals and a control signal, the successive images at various apparent distances. The relationship between accommodation and convergence may be preserved. The images may have a highly detailed component which has its image content changed according to changes in the direction of a monitored one or more visual axes. The images may be provided stereoscopically.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
I claim: 
     
       1. Apparatus, comprising: an image source for providing successive images for presentation to a viewer's eye; and   means, responsive to said successive images and to a control signal, for providing said successive images at various apparent distances for viewing by the viewer's eye at said various apparent distances.   
     
     
       2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said means for providing the successive images at said various apparent distances is for providing said successive images such that the viewer's eye may accommodate to focus on the successive images at the various apparent distances with a normal relationship between accommodation and convergence preserved. 
     
     
       3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said successive images are mixed images having nonuniform resolution. 
     
     
       4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the mixed images have a high resolution component that changes position within said successive images with respect to a low resolution component. 
     
     
       5. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the mixed images have a high resolution component and a low resolution component, and wherein the high resolution component and the low resolution component together chance position within said successive images. 
     
     
       6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said image source is for providing additional successive images for presentation to a remaining eye of the viewer; and wherein said   means for providing said successive images at various distances is also for providing said additional successive images for viewing by said remaining eye of said viewer at the various apparent distances.   
     
     
       7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the additional successive images provided at various distances are for viewing by the viewer's remaining eye with varying accommodation. 
     
     
       8. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said successive images and said additional successive images are provided at said various apparent distances in such a way as to preserve a normal relationship between accommodation and convergence in the eyes of the viewer. 
     
     
       9. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein said image source is for providing additional successive mixed images for presentation to a remaining eye of the viewer; and wherein said means for providing said successive mixed images at various distances is also for providing said additional successive mixed images for viewing by said remaining eye of said viewer at the various apparent distances.   
     
     
       10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the additional successive mixed images provided at various apparent distances are for viewing by the remaining eye of the viewer with varying accommodation. 
     
     
       11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said successive mixed images and said additional successive mixed images are provided at said various apparent distances in such a way as to preserve a normal relationship between accommodation and convergence in the eyes of the viewer. 
     
     
       12. Apparatus, comprising: an image source for providing images of objects; and   means for moving the image source, responsive to a control signal, for providing the images at various distances for viewing at said various distances with correspondingly varying accommodation.   
     
     
       13. The apparatus of claim 12, further comprising eye monitoring means for monitoring an eye for providing said control signal. 
     
     
       14. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein said images at various distances are provided for viewing with a normal relationship between convergence and said varying accommodation. 
     
     
       15. The apparatus of claim 14, further comprising eye monitoring means for monitoring an eye for providing said control signal. 
     
     
       16. Method, comprising the steps of: providing images from an image source;   providing a control signal; and   moving the image source, in response to the control signal, for providing the images at various distances for viewing with correspondingly varying accommodation.   
     
     
       17. The method of claim 16, further comprising the step of monitoring an eye for providing said control signal. 
     
     
       18. The method of claim 16, wherein said images at various distances are provided for viewing binocularly with correspondingly varying convergence. 
     
     
       19. The method of claim 18, further comprising the step of monitoring an eye for providing said control signal.

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